Snap-on clip for elongated instruments

Abstract

A clip assembly for an elongated instrument which includes a base portion, a resilient elongated member extending from the base portion and means extending from the base portion dimensioned for insertion into an aperture defined by the elongated instrument for snap-locking engagement therewith and attachment of the base portion thereto. In its preferred form the elongated instrument is a pen which includes a body member having a reservoir of writing medium and a writing tip, a cap member configured and dimensioned for mating engagement with the body member; and a clip. The clip includes a base portion, a resilient elongated member extending from the base portion; and means extending from the base portion configured and dimensioned for insertion into an aperture defined by the body or cap member of the writing instrument for snap-locking engagement therewith and attachment of the base portion thereto. The base portion and resilient elongated member are configured and dimensioned such that attachment of the base portion to the body or cap member of the writing instrument will retain the elongated member in generally parallel and sufficiently close proximity to the writing instrument for attachment of the writing instrument to wearing apparel or the like.

We claim: 
     
       1. A clip assembly for an elongated instrument which comprises: (a) a base portion;   (b) a resilient elongated member extending from said base portion; and   (c) at least two spaced apart attachment means, each attachment means including at least two leg members spaced apart from each other by a medial groove and extending in a substantially perpendicular direction from said base portion and being resiliently movable toward and away from each other, at least a portion of said leg members having an arcuate outer surface portion and each pair of leg members being dimensioned for insertion through at least one correspondingly configured aperture defined by the elongated instrument, at least said arcuate surface portion of each leg member dimensioned for contacting snap-locking engagement therewith by resilient movement of said leg members toward and away from each other during insertion thereof into said corresponding aperture, thereby providing attachment of said base portion thereto, said base portion and resilient elongated member being configured and dimensioned such that attachment of said base portion to said elongated instrument will retain said elongated member in generally parallel relation and sufficiently close proximity with the elongated instrument for releasable attachment of said instrument to wearing apparel or the like.   
     
     
       2. The clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein said elongated instrument is selected from the group consisting of a writing instrument, a flashlight, a tire air pressure gauge, and a small tool. 
     
     
       3. The clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein said elongated instrument is selected from the group consisting of a pen, a mechanical pencil and an indelible marking instrument. 
     
     
       4. The clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein said clip assembly is constructed of a material which is selected from the group consisting of plastic and metal. 
     
     
       5. A clip assembly for a writing instrument which comprises: (a) a base portion;   (b) a resilient elongated member extending from said base portion; and   (c) integral means for attachment of said clip assembly to the writing instrument, said means including at least two spaced pairs of leg members, each pair of leg members spaced apart from each other by a medial groove and extending in a substantially perpendicular direction from said base portion and being resiliently movable toward and away from each other, at least a portion of said leg members having an arcuate outer surface and being configured and each pair of leg members being dimensioned for insertion through at least one correspondingly configured aperture defined by a wall portion of said writing instrument and dimensioned for snap-locking engagement therewith and attachment of said base portion thereto, said base portion, said resilient elongated member and said leg members being configured and dimensioned such that attachment of said base portion to said writing instrument will retain said elongated member in generally parallel and sufficiently close proximity with said writing instrument for attachment of said writing instrument to wearing apparel or the like.   
     
     
       6. The clip assembly according to claim 5 wherein said snap-locking means comprises at least one polygonal member having a medial groove extending along its length from said base portion to the end of said polygonal member. 
     
     
       7. The clip assembly according to claim 5 wherein said snap-locking means comprises at least two generally arcuate members each having a medial groove extending from said base portion to the end of said generally arcuate members. 
     
     
       8. The clip assembly according to claim 5 wherein said base portion, elongated member, and snap-locking means are integrally molded of a resilient plastic material. 
     
     
       9. The clip assembly according to claim 8 wherein said resilient plastic material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, acetal, nylon, and polyester. 
     
     
       10. The clip assembly according to claim 5 wherein said writing instrument is selected from the group consisting of a pen, mechanical pencil, and an indelible marker. 
     
     
       11. A clip assembly for a writing instrument which comprises: (a) a base portion;   (b) a resilient elongated member extending from said base portion; and   (c) at least two attachment members spaced apart from each other, each attachment member extending substantially perpendicularly from said base portion and integral therewith, each member having a medial groove extending at least over a substantial portion of the length thereof to define a pair of spaced apart leg members resiliently movable toward and away from each other, each of said leg members having an arcuate outer surface and each pair of leg members being dimensioned for insertion in interference relation through at least one corresponding aperture defined by said writing instrument for snap-locking engagement therewith by movement of said leg members toward and away from each other during insertion thereof into said respective aperture thereby providing attachment of said base portion thereto, said base portion, said resilient elongated member and said attachment being integrally molded of a resilient plastic material and said base portion and resilient elongated member being configured and dimensioned such that attachment of said base portion to said writing instrument by insertion of said attachment members into said respective apertures will retain said elongated member in generally parallel and sufficiently close proximity with said writing instrument for attachment of said writing instrument to wearing apparel or the like.   
     
     
       12. The clip assembly according to claim 11 wherein said at least two generally arcuate members each comprise at least two half-conical protrusions integrally molded to said base portion and said elongated member for resilient relative movement toward and away from each other for snap-locking engagement of said corresponding apertures of said pen. 
     
     
       13. The clip assembly according to claim 11 wherein said snap-locking means are configured and dimensioned so as to prevent relative rotation of said base portion and said elongated member around the longitudinal axis of said pen. 
     
     
       14. The clip assembly according to claim 11 wherein said pen comprises a cap member and a body member and wherein said clip assembly is attached to said cap member by at least two generally arcuate members each extending from said base portion and having a medial groove extending in a substantially perpendicular direction from the base portion. 
     
     
       15. A writing instrument comprising: (a) a body member having a reservoir of writing medium and writing tip means;   (b) a cap member configured and dimensioned for attachment to said body member; and   (c) a clip comprising: (i) a base portion;   (ii) a resilient elongated member extending from said base portion; and   (iii) integral attachment means including at least two spaced apart pairs of leg members each pair of leg members spaced apart from each other by a medial groove and extending from said base portion in a substantially perpendicular direction therefrom, at least a portion of said leg members having an arcuate outer surface and dimensioned for insertion in interference relation through at least corresponding pair of apertures defined by said body or cap member of said writing instrument for snap-locking engagement therewith by resilient movement of said leg members toward and away from each other during insertion thereof into said apertures, and thereby providing attachment of the base portion thereto, said base portion, said resilient elongated member and said attachment means being configured and dimensioned such that attachment of said base portion to said body or cap member of said writing instrument by insertion of said attachment means into said respective apertures will retain said elongated member in generally parallel and sufficiently close proximity with said writing instrument for attachment of said writing instrument to wearing apparel or the like.     
     
     
       16. The writing instrument according to claim 15 wherein said writing instrument is selected from the group consisting of a pen, mechanical pencil, and an indelible marker. 
     
     
       17. The writing instrument according to claim 15 wherein said snap-locking means of said clip comprises at least one polygonal member having a medial groove extending along its length from said base portion to the end of said polygonal member. 
     
     
       18. The writing instrument according to claim 15 wherein said snap-locking means of said clip comprising at least two members each having an arcuate outer configuration and a medial groove extending from said base portion to the end of each arcuate member. 
     
     
       19. A pen comprising: (a) a body member having a reservoir of ink and a ball point tip;   (b) a cap member configured and dimensioned for mating engagement with said body member; and   (c) a clip comprising: (i) a base portion;   (ii) a resilient elongated member extending from said base portion; and   (iii) at least two spaced apart attachment means, each attachment means extending from said base portion in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto and each attachment means including at least two leg members spaced apart from each other by a medial groove, each leg member having an arcuate outer surface portion and being dimensioned for insertion in interference relation through at least two correspondingly positioned apertures defined by said cap member for snap-locking engagement therewith by resilient movement of said leg members toward and away from each other during insertion thereof into said respective apertures, thereby providing attachment of said base portion thereto, said base portion, said resilient elongated member, and said attachment members being integrally molded as a unitary attachment means of a resilient plastic material, and said base portion, said resilient elongated member and said attachment members being configured and dimensioned such that attachment of said base portion to said cap member will retain said elongated member in generally parallel and sufficiently close proximity with said cap for attachment of said pen to wearing apparel or the like.     
     
     
       20. The pen according to claim 19 wherein said at least two generally arcuate members of said clip each comprise two half conical protrusions, each of which is integrally molded to said base portion and said elongated member for resilient relative movement toward and away from each other for engagement of said corresponding apertures of said pen. 
     
     
       21. The pen according to claim 19 wherein said arcuate members of said clip are configured and dimensioned so as to prevent relative rotation of said base portion and said elongated member around the longitudinal axis of said pen. 
     
     
       22. The pen according to claim 19 further comprising a button on the end of the pen cap and a second button on the end of the pen body, each of said buttons being retained in position by pin means. 
     
     
       23. The pen according to claim 22 wherein said clip and buttons are molded from a resilient plastic and said pen cap and body are extruded from the same or a different plastic.